31 May 2024

Monthly Newsletter (May 2024)

> UPCOMING EVENTS & INFORMATION

Principal’s Message

Principal’s Vlog

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It is already the end of the month with only one more left this school year. Time really does fly when you are having fun. With the end of the month comes the highlights of all the fantastic events and activities our community has participated in. Please enjoy the highlights of the month.

On another note, it is with a heavy heart that I share the news that I will not be returning to South Island School next year. After much reflection, I have decided that the time has come for me to move on to a new chapter.

I have loved my time as part of the ESF community, especially my years leading the wonderful South Island School. This supportive environment has allowed me to grow tremendously as an educator, and I am deeply grateful for all I have been given.

The South Island School community will always hold a special place in my heart. I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished together – creating a school where students feel valued, challenged, and empowered to be the best versions of themselves. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our fantastic teachers and staff and the tremendous support of our amazing parent community.

I am confident that with the appointment of Helen Thew as the new principal and the excellent leadership team in place, South Island School will continue to thrive. The team’s passion, expertise, and vision for the school will ensure that it remains a place of academic excellence, personal growth, and community spirit.

Thank you all for your support and friendship over the years. South Island School will always hold a piece of my heart.

Carolyn Andrews
Interim Principal

—

UPCOMING EVENTS & INFORMATION

(1) SIS GOES MAD’ 2024 – MAKING A DIFFERENCE (MAD)

Enrollment for Years 7-9 and Year 11 for ‘SIS Goes MaD 2024’ has concluded! We want to reemphasise that activities are allocated randomly, ensuring a fair selection process. The placement announcement will take place in mid-June, and we will notify you of your child’s allocated activity at that time and provide details of securing your child’s spot via email. Here’s an overview for each year group:

Year 7: Camp & School-Based Activities
Year 8-10: Local & Global Activities
Year 11: Work Experience
Year 12: Global & Local CAS Activities
Year 13: Study Week

To secure your child’s participation in the programme, please be aware of the upcoming Deposit Deadline, which is due on 24 June 2024. Kindly submit the required deposit by this date to confirm their place in the chosen activity.

If you have any questions or require further assistance regarding the ‘SIS Goes MaD’ programme, please contact Ms Yokee Kwan at ykwan@sis.edu.hk.

Should you have any inquiries regarding the Year 11 Work Experience, please contact Ms. Gloria Chui at gchui@sis.edu.hk.

(2) LAST CALL FOR THE 2023-2024 SIS YEARBOOK!

Due to popular demand, we have extended the yearbook pre-order deadline for one more week! If you missed the previous deadline, you have until Monday 3 June 5:00 pm to make your pre-order. This is the final order deadline, and there will be NO additional copies available for purchase onsite. Don’t wait. Make your purchase today through this link HERE.

(3) ESF ART EXHIBITION

Join us in celebrating student creativity at the upcoming ESF Art Exhibition 2024

Colourful murals, imaginative sculptures and heartwarming portraits – these are just some of the amazing student creations featured in our ESF Art Exhibition 2024, which takes place at the prestigious arts venue Hong Kong City Hall in Central from 29 May until June 2. This year’s theme – Faster, Higher, Stronger – was inspired by the upcoming Paris Olympics and is all about humans and their extraordinary power to achieve and strive to be the best they can be. Across ESF, hundreds of our students from K1 to Year 13 have been hugely inspired and have created an outstanding collection of artwork spanning painting, digital art, photography, mixed media and more. The venue address is Exhibition Hall, Hong Kong City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central. The exhibition runs from May 29 until June 2 (10 am until 7 pm from 29 May – 1 June) – and from 10 am until 4 pm on 2 June. For more information, call 2574 2351. Please do join us for this wonderful celebration of our student’s creativity and talent.

(4) COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT TICKETS FROM ESF

ESF is offering free concert tickets to two concerts at the Shaw Auditorium in HKUST. Tickets are on a first come, first served basis. For more details, please check out the link below the banner.

Through masterful compositions for marimba, vibraphone, bamboo, and various found objects, Toolbox Percussion will transport audiences on a sonic journey exploring themes of cultural diversity, sustainability, and social change.

Date: Friday, June 7 · 7:45 pm HKT
Location: Shaw Auditorium, HKUST
Tickets HERE

Music Lab Festival 2024 returns after a 6 year break! The festival 2024, led by three Music Lab Co-Artistic Directors KJ Wong, Cy Leo and Joyce Cheung, brings together Hong Kong’s acclaimed musicians under the theme “Original. Excellence”. The festival will present six exciting, original, classical and modern-style concerts from May to July.

Date: Wednesday, June 12 · 7:45 pm HKT
Location: Shaw Auditorium, HKUST
Tickets HERE

—

RECENT HAPPENINGS

(1) DR FROST MATHS

Early this week, the SIS Maths Faculty hosted Dr Jaime Frost, founder of the UK-based nonprofit Doctor Frost Maths. Dr Frost spent the morning periods with our Year 8 and Year 10 students, sharing a bit of his mathematics journey, relevant maths tips and skills, and running a maths challenge with them. In the afternoon, our Maths faculty got to train with Dr Frost and learn more about the plethora of resources available through his charity.

Dr Frost Learning is a recognised UK non-profit organisation whose mission is centred around the core philosophy that education is a fundamental right and central to addressing social inequality on a global level. The group’s resources are utilised all around the world and have reached over 1800 schools worldwide, with over 10.5 million downloads to date.

(2) GCSE ART SHOW OPENING

Early this week, The Space was transformed into a beautiful gallery space as our Year 11 GCSE Fine Arts students shared their works GCSE Art Exhibition. Complete with our music students providing soothing art gallery music, the exhibition started with a delightful reception on Monday evening. Our community of students, parents and teachers got a chance to see the amazing works of our Year 11 artists and explore their portfolio of work from the past two years. While it can be unnerving to have their work showcased, our community enthusiastically observed these pieces and had a chance to learn more from the artists themselves about their inspiration and processes. A big shoutout to our Y11 Fine Art Artists: Aditi Rathi (11B1), Andrea Lau (11N2), Chloe Ho (11B1), Ciel Noma (11S2), Crystal Ling (11N2), Ellie Jeong (11S2), Jaye Li (11S1), Jeri Wu (11S1), Jimin Hur (11M1), Katrina Chan (11K2), Khushi Dayaram (11M1), Olivia Lee (11C2), Paulina Behrens (11C1), Sheron Cheung (11S1), Shell Ma (11C2), Winni Ng (11K1), and Yoki Hong (11S1) and a huge thank you to Ms Hannah Smylie and Mrs Sarah-Jane Pate, not only for a great event but their endless guidance and support for our students through their GCSE years!

In addition to our SIS GCSE Exhibition, the ESF Art Exhibition also kicked off this week with its opening reception on Tuesday evening. With over 200 artists across 19 ESF schools, 9 of which are from South Island School, hundreds of parents, students and school staff fill the City Hall Exhibition Hall to celebrate the amazing artistry across the ESF network.

You can check out the ESF Art Exhibition: Faster, Higher, Strong from now to 2 June at the Exhibition Hall in City Hall!

(3) DANIEL LAWTON SCHOLARSHIP

On Wednesday, we were honoured to host former SIS Parent, Mr John Lawton as he met with this year’s Daniel Lawton Scholarship awardee, Chloe Wong (10B2). This was the first time in 5 years Mr Lawton was able to share the news in person. Chloe was awarded $18,000 to support her pursuit of music, particularly with the alto saxophone. Chloe was selected not only for her musicianship demonstrated in her audition but also for her contribution to the Music department at South Island School. She has been an important member of the Jazz Band, taking part in many school concerts, and was also in the pit band for the musical ‘Joseph’ earlier this academic year. She has also performed as a soloist at our Creative Arts Evening and will be participating in the ESF-wide music workshops at KGV next month.

The Daniel Lawton Scholarship was established in the 1990s, a couple of years after Mr Lawton’s son and former SIS student Daniel, tragically passed. Daniel loved music and was an avid oboe player, leading to his parents establishing this annual scholarship in his memory. Over 30 students have been blessed since the establishment of the scholarship, and we look forward to Chloe and our past and future awardees making a difference with their music endeavours and honour Daniel’s memory.

(4) ESF CHINESE DEBATE COMPETITION

Over the weekend, South Island School hosted the first round of the ESF Chinese Debate Competition. Students from around the ESF network took to the stage in a battle of Chinese prose, articulating and defending their sides of various topics and issues.

The SIS team of Chloe Chan (10B1), Candice Law (10B2), Estella Wen (10K2), Jasmine Chong (10K2), Walker Xu (11N1), and Joyce Xu (12M1) did exceptionally well, showcasing their remarkable skills and great enthusiasm. The team is currently in second place (out of 12 teams) and will eagerly enter the finals with great confidence after this strong performance, looking to do even better!

As host, the event was supported by a group of student helpers: Charmaine Chu (10K), Charlotte Kuan (10S1), Cheryl Chan (10N1), Chung Him Tong (10K2), Emily Kung (10K1), Carina Chan (10B2), Isaac Kwong (10K2), Joyce Xu (12M1), Rae Lau (10M1), Rachel Kok (12K1), Jaqueline Chung (12C2). Special thanks to Walker Xu, Shell Ma, Yoki Hong and Chloe Liu for their contributions despite currently being on study leave during exam season and a big shoutout to Mr Martin Mak and Ms Shirley Chen for not only their help in executing the event but also spending countless hours revising scripts and preparing our SIS debaters for the competition.

(5) YEAR 10 BIOLOGY

This week, our Year 10 Biology students delved into the fascinating world of anatomy by dissecting and identifying the key anatomical features of pig hearts.

The students gained a deeper understanding of the anatomy of a mammalian heart and how its structure relates to its function. It was truly a hands-on opportunity for our students to explore the inner workings of a genuine heart and make direct connections to their classroom learning. Their excitement was palpable, and it was evident that they were fully immersed in the learning process.

(6) WIS GEOGRAPHY CONFERENCE

Thirteen South Island School students and students from four other ESF schools attended the Geography Curriculum Event at West Island School on Monday, 27th May. The students participated in five different workshops, including one from Mr Marshall-Brown., They enjoyed a lecture on climate change by a guest speaker organised by the Royal Geographical Society in Hong Kong. The event aimed to enhance students’ geography skills and knowledge, focusing on geographical concepts and exam techniques. The event proved a great opportunity to network with students from other ESF schools and support the development of several core competencies that are required to be successful in the course.

(7) SIS-PTA UPDATE

**On Behalf of the SIS-PTA**

Another Great PTA Meditation Yoga Session

We hosted another successful PTA meditation and yoga session last Friday. We are happy that our principal, Carolyn Andrews, was able to join us for this calming and rejuvenating activity. A special thanks to our instructor, Monika Jain, for leading the class.

PTA Supports Year 6 Transition Parent Evening

We want to thank the school for inviting the PTA to participate in the Year 6 Transition Parent Evening. The PTA was pleased to sponsor the catering for the evening. Our Treasurer gave a presentation showcasing the initiatives and activities the PTA has undertaken this year. PTA representatives were also present to mingle with new parents.

It was an excellent opportunity to engage with incoming families and invite them to be a part of our wonderful school community. We look forward to welcoming new faces to the PTA in the year ahead. If you are interested in volunteering, please use this link to register.

—

PHASE YEAR 7-9

Message from Head of Phase Year 7-9:

Yr 6 Transition Events

As we get closer to wrapping up the 2023-2024 academic year, I’m delighted to share details of the successful transition events we hosted for our incoming Year 7 students.

On Wednesday, May 29th, we welcomed the parents of our 2024-2025 Year 7 cohort to our campus. This was an opportunity for families to get acquainted, ask questions, and meet the Leadership and Pastoral teams who will be guiding their children through the transition to secondary school. Topics covered included school uniforms, laptop requirements, bus transportation, and device use policy changes.

Then on Friday, May 31st, we were thrilled to host 228 Year 6 students from our feeder schools – Bradbury and QBS – as well as several other ESF primary schools and over 20 students from non-ESF primaries. Despite the threat of inclement weather, the day went off without a hitch.

The students got to meet their new tutor groups and tutors, explore the campus, and even participate in a mini inter-house event hosted by our Family Bauhinia Heads of Year. It was wonderful to see the energy and enthusiasm as these soon-to-be Year 7s got a taste of secondary school life.

These transition events are a core part of ensuring our new students feel welcomed, supported, and prepared for the journey ahead. I’m grateful to our exceptional Pastoral and Leadership teams for organizing these meaningful experiences.

Year 8 and 9 Relationships, Sex Education – RSE

This month both year groups experienced a morning of RSE, focusing on friendship, consent, pornography, body image and boundaries. For both year groups the morning began with an assembly, then followed classes led by teachers and pastoral leaders. All students interacted positively with respect and maturity and their feedback was taken.

Next Year’s Family Bauhinia Prefects

Congratulations to the current Year 8 and 9 Prefects. You have all been involved in many opportunities to support the South Island School community, from taking care of the resources and students in the Space, supporting Family events such as the Talent Show and being ambassadors for our school to visiting students and parents. We are very proud of the leadership you have all shown and commitment to the roles and thank you for this.

The application process for next year’s Year 8 and 9 prefects are launched and we look forward to supporting you in these valued roles.

Ms Syrita Nicholas
Head of Phase Years 7-9

PHASE YEAR 10-11

I want to take this opportunity to highlight our remarkable year 11 students and celebrate their incredible dedication. With over 40 different examination papers on offer, our students have demonstrated unwavering focus, hard work, and commitment to their completion.

This past week, we were fortunate to have a well-deserved break from exams. It allowed our students to recharge and rejuvenate before they embark on the final push to complete this examination series. However, their respite will be short-lived as we resume examinations on 3rd June, beginning with the Mathematics paper. The exams will conclude on 20th June. Once the exams are complete, our students will finally be able to enjoy a well-deserved break and bask in the relaxation of summer. It will be a time for them to unwind, recharge, and prepare for their IB studies in the coming academic year. I hope the Year 11 students enjoy this special time.

For Year 10 students, our focus is now on thinking about the busy year ahead of them. They have been given a fantastic opportunity to meet with their HE counsellors and start the push into the final year with an aspirational conversation about their hopes for the future. I encourage all Year 10s to sign up and take advantage of this useful meeting to focus their thoughts on the exciting opportunities that lie ahead of them.

Ms Laura Beaumont
Head of Phase Years 10-11

PHASE YEAR 12-13

Message from Head of Phase Year 12-13:

It has been a month of hard work and celebrations as Year 13 students finished their examinations. On Tuesday, 21 May, our graduates had the opportunity to celebrate their successes and years at South Island School at the Commencement ceremony. Joined by family and friends, students crossed the stage to receive their certificates. They heard inspiring speeches from Ms Andrews, valedictorians Arim Lee and Luca Ho, and Head Prefects Lily Haylett and Argus Ngai. Two days later, on Thursday, 23 May, graduates had their Dinner Dance at The Mira. Along with enjoying the evening of food, photos, and dancing, students had the chance to thank their tutors as they gathered as an entire cohort for the final time. Taking part in this week reminded me of how fortunate I am to serve as Head of the Senior Phase and work with these outstanding students. Congratulations Class of 2024!

Mr Hin-Hey Lam
Head of Phase Years 12-13

Student Celebration

(1) BILLY DOWDING – HKFC STANDARD CHARTERED SOCCER SEVENS 2024

Congratulations to Billy Dowding (08K2) and the HKFC U12 Boys Football 7s team on their championship-winning performance at the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens tournament. Good ball Billy!

(2) HK NETBALL

Cheers to SIS students Elsie Hulme (12S2), Iris Peel (12K2), Julienne Chong (11B2), SIS Alumni Aqru Chan (Class of 2022) and the rest of the HK National U21 Netball Team for a great 4th place finish at the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) International Net Challenge in Kuala Lumpur this past week. Great job girls!

(3) JASON CHU (10N2) – ULTIMATE FRISBEE

Congratulations to Jason Chu (10N2), who has been selected for the Hong Kong U20 Ultimate Frisbee Team. The team will travel to Birmingham, UK in July to compete in the 2024 World Junior Ultimate (Frisbee) Championships. Very well done Jason!

(4) CLARICE CHOW (07K1)

Whether it’s court, the pitch, the track, or the trail, Clarice Chow (07K1) can do it all! Clarice recently completed two tournaments, one in basketball and one in football.

In basketball, Clarice recently joined the Young Athletes Basketball Training Scheme Inter-district Competitions. Clarice showed great effort and tenacity on the defensive end, with great on-ball defence and challenging every shot from her opponent. Clarice also helped on the offensive end, with drives to the basket leading to layups or free throws. Her efforts helped her team capture 3rd place overall!

On the pitch, Clarice participated in the Jockey Club Women’s U13 Youth Football Training Programme. Like on the court, Clarice’s defence was top-notch, showing great defensive effort all over the pitch. Her great defensive efforts caused numerous turnovers, which Clarice and her teammates promptly turned into scoring opportunities. Clarice and the team placed third in the competition and look forward to the next tournament!

Amazing efforts Clarice! Can’t see you the next time you’re out there competing!

—

SIS SPORTS!

(1) U12 FOOTBALL B TEAM

The U12 Football Boys B Team played 6 games this week. SIX!!!!

Game 1: SIS vs WIS

Their 6 game gauntlet started Monday at Sandy Bay with a doubleheader against ESF rivals West Island School and International College Hong Kong (ICHK). Taking on the undefeated boys from WIS first, the Stingrays knew it would be a tough challenge. Great execution of the defensive game plan kept WIS at bay early on. Still, eventually, WIS found themselves up 3 – 0 at halftime and ultimately came away with a 6-0 victory at the final whistle. Brayden Wong’s outstanding defence stopped countless shots from being on target and earned him Man of the Match on the SIS side.

Game 2: SIS vs ICHK

In the back half of the doubleheader, the boys took on ICHK and found themselves down early. However, SIS responded quickly, with Xander Lee and Reuben Chok making strong runs against the ICHK defence. A strong shot from Xander led to a rebound to Reuben, who finished off the possession, finding the back of the net for the Stingrays’ first goal of the day. However, that would be all the offensive firepower from the Stingrays on Monday afternoon, as ICHK responded with a 4-goal barrage and a 5-1 lead at halftime. Both teams had played a game and a half already, both teams were running off fumes. However, the Stingrays held their own and kept ICHK off the scoreboard in the second half,. Saif Siddiqui’s pestering defence prevented ICHK from developing any offensive rhythm in the second half.

Game 3: SIS vs AIC

After a day of rest, the B Grade boys were back on the pitch, this time a tripleheader. First up was the Australian International School. After Monday’s tough losses, the boys were excited to be matched up against an opponent of a similar level. Early pressure led to early scoring chances from Xander Lee and Saif Siddiqui, leading to an early goal and the U12 B Team’s first lead of the season. The boys kept up their pressure, and Saif slotted home a rebound off of a shot from Xander for a 2-0 lead. The lead would hold as Michael Lee stopped multiple shots from AIS at the closing stages and took home the B team’s first clean sheet of the season.

Game 4&5: SIS vs STC, SIS vs VSA

After securing their first win of the season, the U12 B Team took on ESF Sha Tin College and VSA. These matches were more demanding and the boys suffered heavy defeats, 0-7 against STC, and 1-8 against VSA. Despite these challenging matches, our boys’ efforts never wavered, with Reuben Chok displaying great composure on defence til the final whistle. Xander Lee scored a late consolation in the waning moments of a tough day, showing true SIS spirit and never giving up.

The weather conditions were perfect for football at Happy Valley, and SIS were ready for their final challenge of a busy week on the pitch and the season against Nord Anglia International School (NAIS).

NAIS proved very strong and played some excellent football, building up their attacks with some excellent possession. SIS defended very well, but eventually, NAIS broke the deadlock and then scored a second, shortly afterwards. Xander Lee almost put the Stingrays on the scoreboard, hitting the crossbar with a great shot. In the second half, NAIS continued to play well and padded their lead, giving them a 5-0 win at the final whistle. Special mention goes to Brayden Wong, who effectively carried out his role when asked to manmark the opponents’ strongest player. Despite the loss, all SIS players contributed to a great performance, with several team members coming close to scoring in the second half.

All players can be proud of their efforts this year. Everyone has progressed their skills and knowledge of the game in a competitive environment, and several team members will be in contention to be part of the C Grade HKSSF football squad next year.

(2) U14 CRICKET

The U14 Cricket season wrapped up yesterday in Kowloon, as the boys ventured out to Po Kong Village Reservoir Cricket Ground for the season ending tournament. With interest in the sport growing, SIS was able to field 2 teams and took on cricketers from ESF Discovery College, ESF Renaissance School, ESF KGV, and Australian International School. The two SIS teams began the day facing off against one another, with SIS 1 grabbing the victory. Many of the players on SIS 2 were representing South Island School for the first time in any sport, but they did more than hold their own, claiming a memorable victory over KGC and finishing just short against Renaissance. SIS 1 held a clinic, playing fantastic cricket throughout the day, going undefeated and taking home the title for the first time! Overall, it was a great season for our cricketers at SIS as they made great progress in league play and just missed out on the Cricket Hong Kong League and ISSFHK Finals.

—

APRIL WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS

Linked below are this month’s weekly newsletters (for SIS Parents only through the ESF App):

REMINDERS & KEY DATES

MAY

31: Y6 TRANSITION DAY
31: Y7 INTERHOUSE – BASKETBALL

JUNE

05-06: IB BIOLOGY FIELD TRIP
05-06: Y10 GCSE FOOD FIELD TRIP
07: SIS CAREERS FAIR
10: PUBLIC HOLIDAY: TUEN NG/DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
11: Y9 COMMUNITY PROJECT EXHIBITION
12: Y12 SPORTS SCIENCE TESTING DAY
13: LAST DAY OF M-TH ACTIVITIES BUS
13: Y12 IB CORE DAY 2
13: SIS SPORTS AWARD CEREMONY
14: Y12 RSE
14: LAST DAY OF ACTIVITIES
17-21: LANGUAGES WEEK
20: SIS FILM AWARDS
21: LAST DAY OF FRIDAY ACTIVITIES BUS
28: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Please access the latest school calendar HERE and the FINALISED 2024-2025 Calendar HERE

—

If your child has a particular highlight or achievement you would like to share with the community, please email a short description and photo to ebulletin@sis.edu.hk

—